How to prepare your home for the festive season on a budget

As September draws to a close, Christmas may feel like lifetime away, but it’s never too early to get your finances in order for the festive season and prepare for a festive season on a budget

As well as the copious amounts of food and gifts to cross off your list, you’ll also need to account for Christmas decorations in your budget. However, preparing your home for the forthcoming festive season doesn’t have to break the bank.

That’s why we’ve come up with a few tips to help you save this Christmas season, whilst still making your home look as beautifully festive as ever.

D.I.Y.

There’s no better way to get in the Christmas spirit than with a spot of Christmas D.I.Y.

Garlands, baubles, cards and ornaments are just a few of the things you can make yourself with a bit of creative flair.

Pinterest is a great site to use if you’re in need of inspiration. On Pinterest, you can find a step-by-step D.I.Y. for almost anything, so it’s worth taking a look to see if you can find something to brighten up your home this Christmas.

Making your own Christmas decorations is not only a fun pastime, but you can save even more in years to come, simply by reusing them.

Buy in bulk

You can take advantage of significant savings when buying in bulk, as the cost per item is usually lower than it would be when purchasing one at a time.

Christmas tree decorations and Christmas crackers are the perfect items to buy in large quantities. You could end up paying only a few pennies per item, and you can split the cost with friends or family if you’re buying more than you would need.

Instead of splashing out on decorations in stores like John Lewis, check online to take advantage of bulk savings. You can find a wide variety of cheap decorations on Amazon and eBay, that come in large quantities. Alternatively, take a trip to your nearest wholesaler to see if they have anything on offer.

Limit your spending

Brands and retailers promote their products heavily around Christmas time, making it difficult to walk away from their tempting offers.

Most of us are guilty of overspending at this time of year, however, it’s important to refrain from spending too much, to ensure you have a carefree Christmas and New Year.

Before you go on a shopping spree, analyse your budget and see what you can afford. From there, outline a limit of how much you can spend on your home decorations.

This can be done by loading your budget onto a PrePaid Mastercard, so you can only spend a certain amount. Alternatively, take only the cash you need on your Christmas shop so you won’t be tempted to put any extra spending on your credit or debit card.

Raid your (and your friends’) cupboards

Before you go out buying any Christmas decorations, it’s always a good idea to see what you have lying around the house first.

Check every nook and cranny for any unused or forgotten Christmas decorations that you could dust of for this years’ festivities. If your search is unsuccessful, there’s no harm in asking friends or family if they’ve got a few spare decorations.

It happens all too often when people dispose perfectly good decorations in favour of a shiny, new set. So if you manage to get hold of some unused decorations from a friend, you could save yourself having to spend on them yourself.